Friends with big jobs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meh - honestly I find being a director at 40 or partner or whatever just a reflection of basic intelligence, hard work, and competence. Most of my friends have been in their industry for 15 - 20 years at this point and have reached that level, it is not particularly impressive. I'd like to think if I had been doing the same type of thing in the same type of industry and had decent brains and work ethic I would be at that level in whatever path I took. The only people I know who aren't at that level floundered or could not work hard or learn to write well or do xxx, or they went into professions that do not really have that type of movement, like classroom teaching, nursing, etc. I think not being at that level at this age while being in that type of industry is a red flag.

Great, I am 40 and still a manager. My lack of intelligence is why I need to come to this board to learn about these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have gotten to the age where all of our friends are Director, VPs, Partners, etc. It is a mind f*ck that we are now all the bosses. I feel like just the other day we were all in undergrad and grad school getting our first jobs and living in group houses. Now we are all parents, with big time jobs and stress. Was just in LinkedIn and this thought hit me when I keep seeing new job notices and positions that my friends have.

Yet another reason to avoid LinkedIn. I find that everyone who's working a corporate desk job is a "Director", "Vice President" or "AVP" on their LinkedIn. These titles seem to be a dime a dozen, and it's worth remembering that there are many professions out there that these titles are meaningless. As long as your job can pay bills, support a family, and let you enjoy life, a title is just that, a title.

Exactly. If you have fulfillment in life, the title is secondary to what really matters-your health, family, friends, enjoyment in life. No one is going to be impressed by your title at your funeral.

[Anonymous]

In a flash you go from being the youngest in a room to being the oldest. Just be grateful you are sitting at the head of the table rather than in a chair along the wall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GenX here.

Your Baby Boomer parents are finally, maybe retiring. They should have retired years ago

GenX should be in those roles, and now we finally are. We're in our 50s.

If you think you aren't old enough with enough experience, it's probably because you aren't. It's not imposter syndrome. There simply aren't enough GenXers to replace the Baby Boomers.

Elder Millennials are getting a chance earlier than GenXers.

This. I’m mid-50s and still all the managers are in their 60s. I know I’ve been ready to move up for years and there’s just no opportunity. I might retire before the Boomers do cause I can’t be bothered to wait for them anymore!

Where do you work? are you in the gov't? I am in the private sector and most of the execs are in their 40s or early 50s. The money is good so most people can cash out by their 60s.

OP - I know what you mean. it is strange to look around and think "wait we are in charge now?" My old college roommate is the CEO of a large company, another college friend is a big deal in Hollywood and created several hit shows. i am nowhere near that successful but still I manage a team of about 10 people and it seems like only yesterday I was a clueless intern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GenX here.

Your Baby Boomer parents are finally, maybe retiring. They should have retired years ago

GenX should be in those roles, and now we finally are. We're in our 50s.

If you think you aren't old enough with enough experience, it's probably because you aren't. It's not imposter syndrome. There simply aren't enough GenXers to replace the Baby Boomers.

Elder Millennials are getting a chance earlier than GenXers.

So true. Genx does not have a lot of opportunity because baby boomers won’t retire and it seems like elder millennials have passed us by. I am 47.

[Anonymous]

Former SAHM mom who is back working full time. I see the titles and have to admit that it makes me envious and wish I could have stuck it out without stepping out.

[Anonymous]

I don't envy people with big jobs. That's a lot of stress. I envy people that are not wage slaves.

[Anonymous]

I’m not really impressed by the titles or even the earnings. A lot of these people make only $200-300k, which I made at a government job. I retired early, and now make $500k to $1 million/year trading stocks.

[Anonymous]

Nah. Still a lowly staff attorney here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't envy people with big jobs. That's a lot of stress. I envy people that are not wage slaves.

Me too! How do I make it happen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not really impressed by the titles or even the earnings. A lot of these people make only $200-300k, which I made at a government job. I retired early, and now make $500k to $1 million/year trading stocks.

only 200-300k. DCmom classic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GenX here.

Your Baby Boomer parents are finally, maybe retiring. They should have retired years ago

GenX should be in those roles, and now we finally are. We're in our 50s.

If you think you aren't old enough with enough experience, it's probably because you aren't. It's not imposter syndrome. There simply aren't enough GenXers to replace the Baby Boomers.

Elder Millennials are getting a chance earlier than GenXers.

Np, and I was thinking this. Many young managers are in those roles prematurely. While they have the education, they lack the wisdom to lead, and it shows. I agree that it's not always imposter syndrome but plain old fraud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GenX here.

Your Baby Boomer parents are finally, maybe retiring. They should have retired years ago

GenX should be in those roles, and now we finally are. We're in our 50s.

If you think you aren't old enough with enough experience, it's probably because you aren't. It's not imposter syndrome. There simply aren't enough GenXers to replace the Baby Boomers.

Elder Millennials are getting a chance earlier than GenXers.

This. I’m mid-50s and still all the managers are in their 60s. I know I’ve been ready to move up for years and there’s just no opportunity. I might retire before the Boomers do cause I can’t be bothered to wait for them anymore!

Where is this? I work for a large federal organization and can't think of a single middle management person in their 60s. Most are mid-to-late 30s, 40s, and early 50s. Baby Boomers are gone unless you are referring to the ones on the Gen X cusp.

[Anonymous]

***Where is the wisdom that was supposed to come with age?!?***

...is mostly what I'm thinking. I want something to compensate for white hair and wrinkles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GenX here.

Your Baby Boomer parents are finally, maybe retiring. They should have retired years ago

GenX should be in those roles, and now we finally are. We're in our 50s.

If you think you aren't old enough with enough experience, it's probably because you aren't. It's not imposter syndrome. There simply aren't enough GenXers to replace the Baby Boomers.

Elder Millennials are getting a chance earlier than GenXers.

Np, and I was thinking this. Many young managers are in those roles prematurely. While they have the education, they lack the wisdom to lead, and it shows. I agree that it's not always imposter syndrome but plain old fraud.

It depends on the business objective.
Having a wisdom profit of 1mm is the same of running around with headless chicken profit of 1mm.